The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-07-27

happiness" as taught and practiced in
America. The ''divine right to rule is no
where in Europe an effsctually exploded
dagma of government. The kingly or
the aristocratic idea prevails. In
European countries class and caste ideas
are in the ascendency. Now and then a
man starting out in life with a patent
mouse-trap, a Ia Jay Gould, may have be-
come millionaire. But as a rule such
things as are of daily Occurrences here, are
practically unknown in Europe. Then, to
very large extent, the boy follows the
trade of the father. Here 1t is the excep-
ton and not the rule. The common school
creates ambi ions (?) above manual labor.
The prevailing idea is the progressive.
Bows want to be doctors, lawyers,
neutrality-suspicious. OF some sort.
They want to be in the mercantile bust
ness, or they want to be states
men, politicians, legislators. They are
in hurry to be rich. They see around
them hundreds and thousands of young
men, like the lilies, who toll not, who look
upon work with proud disdain, and their
influence upon the poor boy, who must
work or drift into that idleness which is
productive of vice, is all too powerful.
What else do we see? This, for instance,
oratorical tournaments-in which a few
striplings from colleges crate for prizes.
Thousands throng around them. they are
cheered to the echo. The doors of upper
tendum are thrown open to the orators.
Gallant men applaud them, and fair wo-
men smile upon them. "They are courted
and fattered. The colleges and high
ates, not one of whom has a kind
word to say for manual
labor. How is it with the boy who learns
q trader Who can build locomotive and
navigate it on the rail? How is it with the
army of skilled mechanics who build ev-
erything useful or beautiful? Do they
hear orations? Are the homes of the rich
thrown open to them2 Are prizes offered
to the boys who can best tell how to build
a machine? Who can explain the best
methods of farming? Who master agri-
culture in all scientific details2 What
does uppertendum do for the boys of hard
hands, brawny arms and bronzed faces?
The point we make is this: the tendency
of education in this country is not in the
direction Of Identifying manual labor. 1t
Is largely in the opposite direction, and as
result there are too many young men
crowding the professions. creating a neces-
sity for importing skilled mechanics and
day laboreTs.
But it should be said that OF late more
attention is being paid to trade schools
and to polytechnic training, and some of
the great railroad systems of the country
are taking the matter in hand, and estab-
fishing schools for training youths for ex-
pert work in all departments of railroad
ing. The subject commends itself to
thoughtful men. There is work to be
done and that of the common laborer is
quite as necessary as that of the skilled
mechanic. The preparation of the clay
with which to make bricks is quite as i'm
portant sc to lay the bricks in the edifce,
only more skill is required for the latter.
When men refuse to carry the hod the
edifce ceases to rise. The text books of
our common schools might be made forces
to eliminate from the public mind the
vicious idea that labor is degrading, and
that men may be gentlemen while wearing
the badge of honest work.